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      Elon Musk proposes huge new F1 event as he reveals ‘discussions’ held at Miami Grand Prix

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      THE Formula One paddock was greeted by Elon Musk ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.Twitter and Tesla owner Musk was pictured in the Red Bull garage ahead of FP3 as F1 gears up for the first of three races in the United States this season.
      Elon Musk revealed a huge new proposal for an F1 eventCredit: Getty
      Musk also revealed details of a chat with Christian HornerCredit: Getty
      The Twitter and Tesla owner was also joined by his son on the tour of the Red Bull garageCredit: Getty
      Following his visit, Musk revealed details of a discussion he had with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
      Taking to Twitter, Musk said: “Fun discussion of aero & battery technology in F1.”
      However, Musk then proposed a huge new F1 event.
      He added: “I proposed a pure EV (Electric Vehicle) vs gas/hybrid F1 race.”
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      However, some fans were quick to point out that an all-electric version of F1 already exists – Formula E.
      One wrote: “There’s Formula E buddy.”
      A second said: “So, Formula E??”
      “There is already a competition like F1 for electric cars,” remarked a third.
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      A fourth joked: “About to invent the Formula E competition 😉.”
      The sport has seen a number of F1 stars try their hand at the format, such as former Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
      Current AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries also won the world championship for it in 2021.
      Formula E was introduced as a completely electric alternative to F1, and has seen F1 constructor McLaren join this year.
      The British team were joined by their own celebrity in the paddock this week, this being Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
      The tempers in the sport are not far off F1 either, with Dan Ticktum slamming Jake Dennis following a collision earlier this season.
      Red Bull unveiled a special livery ahead of the race, which they hope will not impact Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez as they bid to make it five wins from five for Red Bull.
      Meanwhile, Sir Lewis Hamilton swapped sports as he showed off his skills with a basketball.

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      Sergio Perez labelled ‘the tyre whisperer’ with F1 star expected to pile pressure on Verstappen at Miami GP

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      SERGIO PEREZ has been tipped to pile the pressure onto Max Verstappen at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. However, Verstappen still retains the advantage on traditional circuits according to former Red Bull performance engineer Blake Hinsey.
      Sergio Perez has been tipped to challenge Max Verstappen across the seasonCredit: Getty
      But he must overcome a ‘half per cent’ gap on traditional circuitsCredit: AFP
      The Dutchman leads the driver standings over his Red Bull team-mate by six points, with the duo sharing two race wins apiece this season.
      But Perez, who won last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, has been tipped to keep up the pressure on Verstappen across the season thanks to his exceptional tyre management.
      Although ahead of the Miami race, Hinsey has declared Verstappen is equal in this regard to “tyre whisperer” Perez.
      Speaking to Channel 4, he said: “There’s the narrative of him [Perez] being exceptionally good on the tyres.
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      “I think the dangerous thing for all the other teams is both Max and Checo are insanely good on their tyres. They have the conundrum. They can do it, go fast and save tyres.
      “That’s the thing, most drivers, you ask them ‘we need you to increase your pace by two tenths, can you look after the tyre?’ They say ‘no’.
      “Whatever it is about the car and combination with these two guys, I’ve seen Checo do it many times, and I’ve seen Max do it multiple times. They’re both monsters.
      “But what is it exactly that he’s [Perez] good at? Yes, the low speed 90-degree corners, great at it, taking risks when he needs to, leaving just enough margin repeatedly over and over in the way that you need to do to do well in a race and qualifying session around the street circuit.
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      “They both can do it. But he’s traditionally been much closer at the circuits numerically.”
      But Hinsey added that to maintain his title charge, Perez, must make up a “half a per cent” gap on traditional circuits.
      He explained: “Traditional circuits, Max was about half a per cent ahead.
      “So I mean he had a clear gap to him on traditional circuits, half a per cent upwards of a one per cent gap to Checo.
      “On street circuits, there was no gap in the qualifying laps they set.
      “Obviously, the context from that is removed, but the numbers don’t lie. He does tend to go well there, he qualifies well there, and he tends to race well there.
      “So I think it’s a little bit of everything, the killer instinct, the adaptability.”
      Despite both drivers prowess, Bulls team boss Helmut Marko also backed Verstappen as being able to execute plans to the optimal level.
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      Last season he said: “Max has gradually become a tyre whisperer.
      “We give him a certain plan and he executes it optimally.”

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      Felipe Massa reveals why he’s trying to have Lewis Hamilton stripped of F1 title as he insists ‘it’s not about money’

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      FELIPE MASSA claims his attempts to overturn Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 F1 title are about justice and “not money”.The Brazilian has started a legal challenge based on claims that former supremo Bernie Ecclestone knew details about the “crashgate” scandal.
      Felipe Massa believes their was injustice in 2008Credit: AFP or licensors
      Lewis Hamilton won his first title, pipping Felipe Massa by a point
      Crashgate occurred at the 2008 Singapore GP where Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr intentionally crashed to assist his team-mate Fernando Alonso in the race.
      The knock-on result was Ferrari stuffed up Massa’s pitstop and ultimately cost him points in the race, which would have been crucial come the end of the season as Hamilton won the title by a point.
      Massa is now seeking his options to have the decision overturned, based on Ecclestone’s failure to act on the information at the time.
      He said: “The first thing when Bernie’s comment [came out] I was really, really surprised, for those comments.
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      “Because everybody knows what happened in the race, everything came out in 2009.
      “We hear after that also that Charlie [Whiting] knew and Max [Mosley] [both from the FIA], so for me it’s the injustice for the sport.
      “It shows that maybe every decision on the legal side, everything that happens, it was not correct in that situation.
      “So I took the decision to study the legal side of everything that happened. I’m not doing this for money but I’m doing this for justice.
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      “Not only for me, but for my friends, my country, my family, Ferrari and Ferrari fans, so in the end there are so many things.
      “You know what a championship does for a country? You can develop the country, we don’t have Brazilian drivers now racing as well, so there are so many things.
      “This is racing, everything that went wrong is part of the game. When you have a problem in the engine or when you have a mistake.
      “You cannot really say ‘I was wrong because my engine broke down’. No. But what happened in that race is a different situation.”
      Felipe Massa wants Lewis Hamilton stripped of the championshipCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Hamilton is a seven-time world championCredit: Reuters More

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      F1 stars and their glam women, from Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway and Cameron Diaz to pop queen Taylor Swift

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      FORMULA 1 has always attracted the rich and famous.From the glitterati of Hollywood’s finest to the latest pop chart sensation, A-listers are drawn to the sport like no other.
      Anne Hathaway was filmed deep in conversation with Daniel Ricciardo
      Ricciardo was a guest at the Met GalaCredit: Rex
      Hathaway admitted she was a huge fan of F1Credit: Rex
      If it’s not the fast-paced action it could be the lure of the handsome drivers that bring the celebrity fans to the paddock.
      Whatever the reason, these are the glam women associated with F1’s driver’s in one form of another.
      Whether they show their love for motor racing at a super-exclusive parties or on the circuit – they are all fans.
      Anne Hathaway
      The Oscar-winning actress let slip she was a huge F1 fan when she met Aussie Daniel Ricciardo at the recent Met Gala in New York.
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      In a video shared online, Hathaway could be seen shaking hands with the Honey Badger while beaming a huge smile towards him.
      In the clip, she could be heard saying: “Wow. I’m a huge fan of F1.”
      Taylor Swift
      Of course, now Taylor is reportedly off the market and dating 1975 frontman Matt Healy.
      But it was Fernando Alonso who was linked with the Anti-Hero singer first.
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      Rampant rumours online suggested the pair were secretly courting.
      And Alonso did little to stop the talk as he often hinted at a relationship.
      The Spaniard posted a TikTok of himself listening to her music and also avoided questions about the rumours.
      Fernando Alonso fuelled rumours he was dating Taylor SwiftCredit: Instagram
      Swift is now reportedly off the market nowCredit: Getty
      Cameron Diaz
      Something About Mary star Diaz is a huge fan of the glitzy Monaco Grand Prix.
      She was spotted mingling with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team in the paddock before the 2013 race.
      And she must have brought them luck – with Nico Rosberg victorious on that occasion.
      But Diaz has always had a need for speed.
      Speaking about inheriting her mum’s VW van, she admitted: “The moment I got my hands on it, I would get it up to 80mph in the fast lane. It was so big, no one wanted to drive near me. It was a case of ‘Get out of my way.’
      Cameron Diaz takes in the action at the Monaco Grand PrixCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Diaz is glued to the action in the Mercedes AMG PetronasCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Rihanna
      When your mates with Lewis Hamilton, it’s a given you will get an invite to a race.
      The pair were rumoured to have dated, although the seven-time world champion shot those rumours down and confirmed they were just good pals.
      The Umbrella singer got more than to just attend a meet.
      Instead, she closed the Abu Dhabi grand prix by performing an epic concert filled with her greatest hits.
      Rihanna visits Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren garage ahead of the Canada Grand PrixCredit: BBC
      Hamilton and Rihanna are close friendsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Dua Lipa
      What RiRi can do, so can Dua Lipa.
      In 2018 she shared the stage with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix at the Singapore Grand Prix.
      Beforehand, she enjoyed the festivities the race had to offer.
      Interestingly, she also appeared as a FIFA character in an update alongside Lewis Hamilton.
      Dua Lipa was spotted at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2018
      Paris Hilton
      The heiress to the Hilton hotel group and reality TV star is another huge F1 fan.
      Back in 2016, she DJ’d at the Abu Dhabi GP afterparty at VIP Room nightclub with Hamilton.
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      Then last year she was a guest at the Miami Grand Prix, where she hung out with Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Serena Williams.
      Hilton was also the owner of a McLaren SLR once upon a time too.
      Paris Hilton is a fan of F1 – attending the Miami Grand Prix
      Hilton met up with Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Serena Williams More

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      Lewis Hamilton doesn’t know if he’s invited to King Charles Coronation as he says ‘I haven’t seen my mail for years’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he has “no idea” if he received an invitation to King Charles’ Coronation. Brits will watch the crowning of a new monarch for the first time since 1953 tomorrow following the Queen’s passing last year.
      Lewis Hamilton has one podium from the opening four races of the season so farCredit: Splash
      King Charles, 74, will be officially crowned tomorrowCredit: EPA
      But Hamilton will be juggling other responsibilities as he looks to get Mercedes’ season back on track at the Miami Grand Prix.
      The seven times world champions said he will try to tune in from the garage tomorrow, but is not sure if he received an invite.
      Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz asked the star, who was knighted in 2021 by King Charles, if had been invited to attend the ceremony.
      Hamilton said: “I have no idea. I have no idea. I don’t see my mail. I’ve not seen my mail in years.”
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      Kravitz responded: “You probably did get an invitation, you know…”
      Hamilton added: “Kind of neat if I did, if I didn’t it’s okay. Amazing I’m going to hopefully have it live while I’m engineering.”

      The 38-year-old has met the new King on multiple occasions previously.
      Even before he was knighted in 2021, Hamilton met the monarch in 1997 when the future F1 star was just a 12-year-old karting prodigy.
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      The driver previously told Vanity Fair: “When I had signed into 1997 and then I went to McLaren, Prince Charles came to open up the factory. And that day I remember having my go-kart and I was sitting there, and Prince Charles knelt down next to me and spoke to me. 
      “I was like, ‘Hey, I’m Lewis Hamilton. One day, I want to be a Formula 1 champion. When I stood up [after being knighted in 2021], he’s like, ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. You’ve come a long way.
      “And I’m like, ‘Yes, honoured to see you, your Highness. Thank you so much for having me and my family, this gesture,’ just telling him how grateful I am for this moment.” More

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      George Russell blasts back at ‘pathetic’ F1 rival Verstappen for ‘spitting his dummy out’ with ‘d***head’ blast

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      GEORGE RUSSELL says Max Verstappen “spat his dummy out” with his “pathetic” blast in Baku.Angry Verstappen labelled Russell “a d***head” after they made contact during the Azerbaijan GP Sprint race.
      George Russell has defended his overtaking move after taking a chunk out of Max Verstappen’s Red BullCredit: Splash
      Live TV cameras caught Verstappen criticising Russell after the sprintCredit: Splash
      The Dutchman confronted the Mercedes man at the end of the race to remonstrate.
      Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP, Russell said: “It was all a little bit pathetic.
      “I think something you learn as a kid is if you’re going to give something you’ve got to be willing to take it as well.
      “He’s had his fair share of giving moves like that and being tough and hard at racing and it’s a little bit poor to see how he sort of spat his dummy out when it was the first time he probably got something back in the same regard.
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      “From my side there was nothing really to say. I thought it was good racing, exciting racing and that’s the only thing that happened that weekend.
      “We’re both drivers, we’ve both been in the sport a long time now and we have plenty of experience. 
      “We’ll have a chat, everything is fine, move on and I guess we’ll laugh about it one day.”
      Russell and Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel from the very first corner in the revamped sprint before making contact.
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      The Brit had gone down the inside of the two-times world champion on the tight and twisty Baku streets and left Verstappen with missing bodywork after they touched.
      With Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc getting both poles in the qualifying sessions and Sergio Perez winning both the sprint and the Grand Prix, it was Verstappen’s least convincing weekend of the season.
      Some fans have defended Russell’s move and pointed out that Verstappen is known for his own fearless overtakes and uncompromising racing.
      The young drivers could meet on track again this weekend if Mercedes can keep up with Red Bull, something they have failed to do for most of the season. More

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      Lewis Hamilton makes decision on F1 future amid Mercedes contract talks and retirement rumours

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      LEWIS HAMILTON wants to sign a new multi-year contract with Mercedes as he rallies against suggestions he will retire.The seven-time world champion is out of contract at the end of this season but has always stated his intention to stay in F1.
      Lewis Hamilton has made a call on his Mercedes futureCredit: Reuters
      But rather than agreeing a 12-month extension to his deal with Mercedes, worth £40million a year, he wants to open up discussions about a longer-term contract.
      Hamilton, 38, said ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP that he is taking motivation from veteran basketball star LeBron James and NFL’s Tom Brady, by extending his career.
      He said: “I’m not at the end of my career, I’m not in the downhill slope of my career. I’m in my prime.
      “It all depends on how hard I want to work and keep myself in my prime, in terms of physical and mental capability.
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      “If you look at LeBron, if you look at Tom Brady, they have shown that it can be sustained for as long as you are dedicated enough to put the energy and time in.
      “Right now, I don’t plan on changing, I only plan on adding to the drive and the motivation and to being better. I’m massively driven.”
      With his future in the balance – at least contractually – there has been speculation linking Charles Leclerc with a move from Ferrari to become Hamilton’s replacement.
      It is a rumour that Hamilton shot down as he repeated his desire to remain with the Silver Arrows.
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      He added: “I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about ending my career anywhere else. I started at McLaren, I’d like to think I’ll always be a part of the McLaren family.
      “I started there when I was 13 years old [as a junior driver], so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day.
      “I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red…
      “But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home. I’m happy where I am. I haven’t signed a contract yet, but we are working on one.”
      Hamilton is now set for the Miami GP this weekend with the track running around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium.
      He said: “The weather is insane, it’s one of the most gruelling tracks for us. Not only as drivers but also the car with this heat. It’s exciting to be here.
      “But Miami is a dream for us to be here. In the States but also in a big important city like Miami where sports is huge here.
      “You’ve obviously got the Miami Heat, the Dolphins. They are massive sporting fans.”
      Hamilton joined his fellow F1 stars at the Hard Rock StadiumCredit: Alamy More

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      Toto Wolff insists Mercedes are ‘100 per cent committed’ to keeping F1 legend Lewis Hamilton

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      MERCEDES team principal Toto Wolff has said the team are “100 per cent committed” to keeping Lewis Hamilton.Wolff also expects to see the former world champion chase a record eighth Formula One title next year.
      Lewis Hamilton is currently enjoying some down time before the Miami GP this weekendCredit: Getty
      Toto Wolff wants Hamilton to stay beyond this year
      This confirmation of commitment to Hamilton comes as rumours are flying around the F1 paddock.
      There are even some suggestions that Hamilton could perhaps walk away from the sport altogether.
      However, these have been denied by the Brit.
      There has also been speculation that Mercedes will make a move to steal Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
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      Indeed, gossip emerged that Leclerc and Hamilton could swap places next year.
      However, these have also been put to bed.
      Ferrari are currently in a better place than Mercedes car wise, and so Leclerc will remain “fully committed” to the Italian team.
      The Ferrari poster-boy took his first pole of the season with an impressive performance in the new qualifying format at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix  last weekend.
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      When asked about Leclerc, Wolff said: “I think he’s 100 per cent committed and loyal to Ferrari and it’s his contract.
      “And in the same way we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis.”
      Wolff added that no conversations had taken place between Mercedes and Ferrari.
      When pressed on the subject, the Austrian executive responded that the press ‘want that headline’.
      Hamilton will be 39 next year and has not won a race since the December 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
      His team have since fallen behind the dominant Red Bull.
      The seven-time world champion’s contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of the season, but Wolff has now indirectly declared that the team will offer him an extension.
      Discussions about next year will likely come down to Mercedes’ ability to provide Hamilton with a car capable of truly challenging the Red Bull drivers.
      The Mercedes boss added to formula1.com: “That is what it looks like at the moment, and we just need to give him a car that can do that.
      “And hopefully we can get our package to a winning package this season and have something that can bring him his eighth title, and no doubt he is motivated to achieve this.

      “That’s something he wants to do, that’s his ability, we have a great relationship personally.
      “And with the team he’s been a strong pillar over the last 10 years, so we are in a really good place”. More